Poplin

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈpɒplɪn/

Definitions

1. A lightweight textile known for its smoothness and often composed of cotton, typically utilized in the making of garments and home textiles
2. This fine fabric, commonly woven in a plain style, is valued for its durability and is frequently employed in clothing such as shirts and dresses
3. A type of fabric characterized by its fine weave and smooth texture, which is often made from cotton and used in various clothing and upholstery applications

Etymology: The fabric's name seems to have been reshaped by an English ear that heard a famous name in it. The French "papeline" was itself a distortion of "Poperinge", a town in Flanders that was a centre of textile production. English speakers then altered the word again, apparently associating it with "Pope", as if the cloth were papal or connected to the Pope, though the link to Pope is an alteration rather than the true origin. The chain runs through a place name, a French mangling of that name, and an English reshaping that made the fabric sound ecclesiastical. A town known for its weaving ended up giving its name to a plain, durable cloth, and the Flemish origin remains visible in the word's hidden geography.

Synonyms: fabric, cloth